That means he will only be able to sign for this year only (unless long term deal is negiotiated after the season).

I think his resolve will meet reality and he will report on Labor day to play out the season. Unlike Deion, "Zant" walks from a significant amount of money if he does not paly this year. If you add the 7.9MM from this year to the 10MM from next (were we to franchise him again), 18MM is not too far below what he would see in the first two years of a long term deal anyway.

The only uncertainty here of course, is injury - if he reports to play from day one, he could possibly only see 7.9MM. That is the risk he is taking and the only possible reason to hold out as long as he can, less playing time = less risk of injury, so, reporting week 10 means 3.5MM but only having to play out the season, before he possibly does it all over again.

OK all of that being said - I repeat, he reports Labor Day has a decent season and we move him for a #1 by draft day (We need his cap money for Warren first and then Wilfork).

If I were him, I'd show up at TC, get hit hard once in practice, then start complaining about dizziness. With the new concussion policy, they wouldn't dare make him play if he says he's seeing double, and the team would ultimately have to IR him and pay him for the season. It would be a major F.U. to the organization, but if he wants to play hardball that's the way.

Or he could tell Belichick that he'll report but won't try, forcing them to bench him and pay him anyway, without risk of injury.

Pujo- Just who's side are you on here?
If Assante did that I would lose all the respect I ever had for him and would curse his name and his stupid ass tattoo.
Chances of Assante being that low to use the concussion as a cop out is slim to none.
I would of thought you were joking but you went in good detail how he could use that excuse.

If Assante did that I would lose all the respect I ever had for him and would curse his name and his stupid ass tattoo.
Chances of Assante being that low to use the concussion as a cop out is slim to none.
I would of thought you were joking but you went in good detail how he could use that excuse.

If I were him, I'd show up at TC, get hit hard once in practice, then start complaining about dizziness. With the new concussion policy, they wouldn't dare make him play if he says he's seeing double, and the team would ultimately have to IR him and pay him for the season. It would be a major F.U. to the organization, but if he wants to play hardball that's the way.

Or he could tell Belichick that he'll report but won't try, forcing them to bench him and pay him anyway, without risk of injury.

Click to expand...

The problem with this is how it negatively affects his chances of a future deal in 08 with some other team. If teams believe he was injured, then he gets less for being "damaged goods." If teams accept he was jaking it, then he gets less for "character issues." Also, the Pats would play hardball again with the tag next year in the latter case.

The real wild card here, is what the league would be willing to pay him and trade to the Pats to get him. I haven't seen anything even rumored at the numbers he wants - and he has been free and open to negotiate this at any time since March. If he thinks he and some other team(s) are "close" on money then he holds out to try to force the Pats to close the gap on the trade side of the issue. If not, then I think he has to report and get his 8M and hope for next year.